Mattresses with extended length handles

ABSTRACT

A mattress having a top surface, a bottom surface which is opposite of and parallel to the top surface, and a right side wall, a left side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, the right, left, bottom and top side walls being perpendicular to and extending between the top and bottom surface of the mattress. A single extended length mattress handle is attached horizontally along a substantial length of each opposing side wall of the mattress. The extended length mattress handles are sewn onto the mattress at two or more connection points and preferably at three or more points or areas on each mattress side wall. In one embodiment, the length of the mattress handles is less than the length of the side wall to which it is attached. In a second embodiment, the length of the mattress handles is greater than the length of the mattress and the handle wraps around each corner and extends onto the adjacent end wall or walls. The extended length and horizontal arrangement of the handles facilitates easier gripping and handling of the mattress.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no applications related to this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to mattresses and sleep systems andsleep sets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mattresses have been manufactured with handles attached to the verticalside panel or “border” upholstery material which covers the side of themattress; between the top and bottom surfaces. Such border mountedhandles are most commonly in the form of rope or elastic cord or stripof material, with the ends extending through grommets in the bordermaterial and knotted or stapled inside the mattress or sewn directly tothe border material. Conventionally there has been provided two handles,approximately six to eight inches in length, on each long side of themattress, spaced at approximately one third and two thirds of the lengthof the mattress. The handles are most commonly oriented horizontally orparallel with the resting surface of the mattress, but can also beoriented vertically; transverse to the top and bottom surfaces of themattress. Mattresses have also been made with handles on the head andfoot ends of the border.

With the increased size and weight of mattresses over the years, handlesare a necessity to enable efficient handling and adjustment of positionon a foundation. Providing only two relatively short length handles perside limits this ability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The mattresses of the present: invention provide an upholsteryassemblage which includes handles of extended lengths for improvedhandle construction and increased ease of handling and adjustment. Inone representative embodiment, a mattress core, in combination with oneor more padding layers, is covered with an upholstery layer thatenvelops the mattress core and one or more padding layers. The mattresshas a top surface, a bottom surface which is opposite and parallel tothe top surface, a left side wall, a right side wall, a top side walland a bottom side wall, the left, right, top and bottom side walls beingperpendicular to and extending between the top and bottom surfaces. Themattress further includes at least two mattress handles horizontallydisposed and attached along at least two apposing side walls of themattress, the at least two mattress handles having a length that extendsalong a substantial length of the side wall or border of the mattress towhich it is attached. The at least two mattress handles are eachattached to the mattress at two or more attach merit points or areas,and each preferably attached to the border at at least three attachmentpoint or areas.

In a second representative embodiment, a mattress comprises a topsurface, a bottom surface which is opposite and parallel to the topsurface, and a border which is perpendicular to and extends between thetop and bottom surface creating a substantially rectangular structure.The border includes a left side wall, a right side wall, a top side walland a bottom side wall. A first handle is attached at afirst end to afirst end of the mattress border, extending along the right wall of themattress border and attached at a second end to an opposite end of themattress border. A second handle is attached at a first end to the firstend of the mattress border, extending along the left side wall of themattress border and attached at the opposite end of the mattress border.

These and other embodiments of the disclosure and inventions are furtherdescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the Mattress withHorizontal Handles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the Mattress with Horizontal Handles of FIG. 1,which is identical to the opposite side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the Mattress withHorizontal Handles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the Mattress with Horizontal Handles of FIG. 3,which is identical to the opposite side view thereof.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the Mattress with Horizontal Handles of FIG. 3,which is identical to the opposite end view thereof.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a third embodiment of the Mattress withHorizontal Handles of the present invention, which is identical to theopposite side view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

The mattress 100 according to the present invention is generally squareor rectangular shaped having a substantially planar top surface and asubstantially planar bottom surface which is opposite and parallel tothe top surface, and four substantially planar side walls that areparallel to and extend between the top and bottom surfaces of themattress. The top and bottom side walls 12, also referred to herein as“end walls”, are the head and foot ends of the mattress, are parallel.The right and left side walls 10 (or “longitudinal sides”) are parallelto each other and perpendicular to the top and bottom side walls 12. Theside walls 10 and 12 are formed by a separate piece of material referredto as a “border”, which is an upholstery or quilt material which iswrapped around the perimeter of the mattress core, or padding or othermaterials which surround the mattress core. The extended length mattresshandles described herein are attached to the border which forms sidewalls 10 and 12, either by stitching or other fastening means.

The outer surfaces of the mattress are formed by one or more layers ofquilt material or quilt package, also referred to as “ticking”,“upholstery” or “upholstery tick” which is sewn together to enclose theinner components of the mattress such as an innerspring and internallayers of padding, foam or other components. The mattress core may be inthe form of an innerspring comprising a plurality of coil springsarranged in a matrix and attached to one another with helical lacingwire. Alternatively, the mattress core may be comprised of onemonolithic piece of foam or have several foam layers. The presentdisclosure and related inventions is applicable to all different typesand sizes of mattresses, including upholstered mattresses with differenttypes of cores, i.e., spring, foam or wire and foam combinations.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, at least two single extendedlength mattress handles or straps 14 are generally horizontally disposedand attached to at least two opposing side walls of the mattress,preferably the left and right sides 10, and may extend to the adjacentend walls 12 as further described. The length of each of the extendedlength handles, as measured horizontally from one end to an opposite endas the handle is attached to the border, is longer than any mattresshandles of this type of which the Applicants are aware, and is generallygreater than about 10 inches, and can be greater than 20 inches, greaterthan 30 inches, greater than 40 inches, greater than 50 inches, greaterthan 60 inches, greater than 70 inches, greater than 80 inches. andgreater than a total length of the sides 10 of a mattress, as furtherdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment an extended length handlelength is less than the length of the side mattress wall 10 to which thehandle 14 is attached, and is of a length of approximately 50-55 inches.As used herein, the term “extended length handle” refers to and means amattress handle of the type described which has a length or linearextent along a side wall or border of a mattress wherein the totallength of the handle is within a range that includes lengths greaterthan approximately eight or ten inches and equal to or greater than anentire length of one longitudinal side of the mattress to which it isattached. In a representative embodiment of the disclosure, an extendedlength mattress handle has a total length of preferably greater thanabout six inches, and more preferably greater than about eight inches,and even more preferably greater than ten inches, and up to andincluding the lengths described herein.

The first and second opposing ends 16 and 18 of each handle are attachedto a side wall 10 of the mattress 100. The handle body 14 is furtherattached to the mattress 100 at several additional connection orattachment points 20 along the corresponding side wall 10 of themattress 100. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment points 20 may becomprised of thread which is stitched through the handle and mattresswall in a pattern or defined area, as shown for example in FIG. 1,having a square box with an X stitch pattern inside the box. This stitchpattern gives the attachment sufficient strength to affix and maintainthe attachment of the handle 14 to the side wall 10 of the mattress 100.Other stitch patterns are considered to be within the scope of thepresent invention. As used herein, the term “attachment point” refers toand includes an area of stitching which extends through the handle andinto the boarder of the mattress. The sewing equipment used to attachthe handles to the mattress are capable of sewing any number ofdifferent stitch patterns or defined areas of stitching. The stitchpatterns may even be customized with for example, a company logo orother such indicia. Also, the stitch patterns at each attachment pointor area may be varied or non-repeating. In a preferred embodiment, thereare approximately seven distinct or spaced-apart attachment points orareas along the length of the handle, creating approximately six equallysized horizontal handles 22 or segments at which a user may grasp thehandle 14 on at least two opposing side of the mattress. The handles 14can be made of the same quilting fabric as the outer fabric material athe mattress, or of any material which can be formed as a handle andsewn to the mattress border.

In a second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a single extendedlength mattress handle 24 or strap is horizontally disposed and attachedalong at least two opposing, parallel side walls of the mattress 100,preferably the left and right sides 10. The length of each handle 24 isgreater than the length of the side wall 10 to which the handle 24 isattached. This allows each of the opposing ends 16, 18 of each handle 24to wrap around opposing corners 28 of the mattress 100 and extend alongthe adjacent side wall. This excess creates an extra handle 26 orsegment at the outer edge of each adjacent side wall, such as at theedge of the top and bottom side walls 12 of the mattress 100. Attachmentpoints 20 are located at the opposing ends 16, 18 of the mattresshandles (located on each adjacent side wall), at each mattress corner28, and at several additional points 20 along the side wall 10 of themattress 100. This configuration creates two handles 26, one each at thetop and bottom side wall 12 and several adjacent handles 22 or grippingpoints along the left and right side walls 10 of the mattress 100. For atwin or full Mattress with a length of approximately 75-76 inches, therewill be one attachment point on each adjacent side wall, one at eachcorner; and six more equally spaced attachment points along the lengthof the mattress, creating approximately nine equally sized handles alongeach long side, or the left and right sides of the mattress. A king orqueen sized mattress, approximately 80 inches in length, would containone extra attachment point which would create approximately ten equallysized handles along each long side of the mattress. In a preferredembodiment, as described above, the attachment of the handles 24 to themattress 100 may be by thread sewn in a box shape with an ‘X’ stitchpattern inside the box to provide sufficient attachment strength. Otherstitch patterns may also be used. The handles are made of the samequilting fabric as the outer surface of the mattress so that they easilyblend with the aesthetics of the mattress.

In yet another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, a single extended lengthmattress handle 24 or strap is horizontally disposed and attached alongall four sides of the mattress. The handle is initially attached at onepoint along one side of the mattress and wraps around all four sides ofthe mattress until it reaches the initial attachment point. The initialattachment point may be at one corner of the mattress or it may be at aspecific point along one of the mattress sides. Attachment points 20 arelocated at each mattress corner 28 and at several additional points 20along each side wall 10 of the mattress 100. This configuration createsequally sized and spaced handles along the left and right side walls 10and the top and bottom side wall 12. For a twin or full sized mattress(length 75-76 inches long), six equally spaced attachment points will beattached along each long side, or left and right side, of the mattress,creating approximately nine equally sized handles. A king or queen sizedmattress (length 80 inches long) would contain one extra attachmentpoint which would result in approximately ten equally sized handlesalong each long side or the mattress:

Attachment of the horizontal handles along the sides of the mattress maybe sewn on by hand or by an automated process, as described for examplein U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,579, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Extending a single extended length mattress handle along the entirelength of two sides of the mattress provides a gripping position atpractically any point along the length of the mattress. The horizontalplacement of the handles also better facilitate movements such aslifting or turning of the mattress.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifitations may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive. Other features and aspects of this invention will beappreciated by thOse skilled in the art upon reading and comprehendingthis disclosure. Such features, aspects, and expected variations andmodifications of the reported results and examples are clearly withinthe scope of the invention where the invention is limited solely by thescope of the following claims.

1. A mattress comprising: a mattress core; one or more upholsterylayers; one or more quilting layers that envelop the mattress core andthe one or more upholstery layers; the mattress having a top surface, abottom surface which is opposite and parallel to the top surface, a leftside wall, a right side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall,the left, right, top and bottom Side walls being perpendicular to andextending between the top and bottom surfaces; an extended lengthmattress handle attached to each of the opposing side walls of themattress, the extended length mattress handles having a length that isless than a length of the side wall to which it is attached, wherein theat least two mattress handles are each attached to the respectivemattress side wall at three or more attachment points.
 2. The mattressof claim 1 wherein each extended length mattress handle extends asubstantial length of the respective mattress side wall.
 3. The mattressof claim 1, wherein the length of each of the extended length mattresshandles is greater than 10 inches.
 4. The mattress of claim 1, whereinthe each of the extended length mattress handles are attached to themattress at three or more attachment points.
 5. The mattress of claim 1,wherein one extended length mattress handle is attached to the rightside wall and one extended length mattress handle is attached to theleft side wall.
 6. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattresscomprises four extended length mattress handles, a first Mattress handlebeing attached to the right side wall, a second mattress handle beingattached to the left side wall, a third mattress handle being attachedto the bottom side wall, and a fourth mattress handle being attached tothe top side wall.
 7. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the at least twomattress handles are attached to the mattress at five or more attachmentpoints.
 8. The mattress of claim 6, wherein the five or more attachmentpoints create at least four handles.
 9. The mattress of claim 1, whereinthe at least two mattress handles are sewn onto the mattress.
 10. Themattress of claim 1, wherein the at least two mattress handles areattached to the mattress by stitching which extends through the extendedmattress handles into the mattress side wall.
 11. A mattress comprising:a top surface, a bottom surface which is opposite and parallel to thetop surface, and a border which is perpendicular to and extends betweenthe top and bottom surface creating a substantially rectangularstructure; the border comprising a left side wall, a right side wall, atop side wall and a bottom side wall, a first extended length handlebeing attached at a first end to the top side wall of the mattressborder, extending along the right side wall of the mattress border andattached at a second end to the bottom side wall of the mattress border;a second extended length handle being attached at a first end to the topside wall of the mattress border, extending along the left side wall ofthe mattress border and attached at a second end to the bottom-side wallof the mattress border.
 12. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the firstextended length handle is attached to the right side wall of themattress border at three or more attachment points.
 13. The mattress ofclaim 11, wherein the second extended length handle is attached to theleft wall of the mattress border at three or more attachment points. 14.The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first and second extended lengthhandles are attached to the right and left side walls of the mattress atapproximately 10 attachment points.
 15. The mattress of claim 11,wherein the first and second extended length handles are attached to theright and left side walls of the mattress at approximately 11 attachmentpoints.
 16. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first extended lengthhandle is additionally connected to the mattress proximate to anintersection of a first end wall and a right side wall of the mattressborder and proximate to an intersection of the second end wall and theright side wall of the mattress border and at three or more connectionpoints along the right side wall of the mattress border.
 17. Themattress of claim 11, wherein the second extended length handle isadditionally connected to the mattress proximate to an intersection of afirst end wall and a left side wall of the mattress border and proximateto an intersection of a second end wall and the left side wall of themattress border and at three or more connection points along the rightside wall of the mattress border.
 18. The mattress of claim 11, whereinthe first extended length handle and the second extended length handleare attached respectively to the right side wall and the left side wallat one or more connection points or areas and wherein the first extendedlength handle and the second extended length handle are equally spacedalong the respective length of the right and left side walls of themattress border.
 19. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first andsecond extended length handles are made of the same fabric as themattress border.
 20. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first andsecond extended length handles are horizontally disposed.
 21. Themattress of claim 11, wherein the first and second handles are sewn ontothe mattress border.
 22. A mattress comprising: a mattress core; one ormore upholstery layers; a quilt layer over the one or more upholsterylayers; a border which surrounds a perimeter of the mattress core andthe one or more upholstery layers, the border being perpendicular to andattached along an edge to the quilt layer, and having a first and secondlongitudinal sections, a head section which extends between the firstand second longitudinal sections at a first end of the mattress core,and a foot section which extends between the first and secondlongitudinal sections at a second end of the mattress core; an extendedlength mattress handle attached to each of the first and secondlongitudinal sections of the border, each extended length mattresshandle being attached to the border at three separate locations along alength of the extended length mattress handle.
 23. The mattress of claim22 wherein the extended length mattress handles have a length greaterthan 10 inches.
 24. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended lengthmattress handles have a length greater than 12 inches.
 25. The mattressof claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress handles have a lengthgreater than 14 inches.
 26. The mattress of claim 22 wherein theextended length mattress handles have a length greater than 20 inches.27. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattresshandles have a length greater than 30 inches.
 28. The mattress of claim22 wherein the extended length mattress handles have a length greaterthan 40 inches.
 29. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended lengthmattress handles have a length greater than 50 inches.
 30. The mattressof claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress handles have a lengthgreater than 60 inches.
 31. The mattress of claim 22 wherein theextended length mattress handles have a length greater than 70 inches.32. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattresshandles have a length greater than 80 inches.